House heater



Marh 26, 1929- J. s. GULLBORG ET A1.

HOUSE HEATER Filed Feb. 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet i m mmmmmmmm March 26, 1929. J. s. GULLBORG ET Al. 1,706,879

HOUSE HEATER Filed Feb. 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 26, 1929. J. s. GULLBORG ET 1,706,879

HOUSE HEATER Filed Feb. 18, 1927 s sheets-sheet 5 ratenfeid Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITI-:n STATE-s Pr-l'rslv'r OFFICE.

.mmv s. efuLLIaoIta AND CLARENCE s. CNGMAN, or CIIICAed, ILLINOIS.

Hotfsn HEATER.

Application led February 18, 1927. Serial No. 169,316.

5 ers which 'form in themselves` 4al complete heating, unit and are provided with radiating surfaces of appreciable area for radiating into the room the heat generatedin such Vjunit. The common example of such a unit is the gas-steam radiators in which water in.

the radiator is heated by a suitable type of gas heater and is thereby converted intox,y

l steam.` `This radiator, whileeilicient as a heater, is objectionable in several respects. It is not portable in the sense that it can be readily moved as desired from one position to another, since it is necessary to connect the gas heater to a supply line. It is also objectionable in that thefumes from the gas'l heater enter the room which in some instances, as where theheater gives 0H carbon-monoxide gas, is very dangerous. There -is also a very appreciable portion of the heat from the gas burner which is lostl or dissipated without serving any useful purpose in heating the water or steam within the radiator resulting in reduced efficiency as compared to a device of this general character in which this loss of heat from the burnei` or heatin element is eliminated.

In our eating device the above noted .ob-

jection to the gas-steam radiator is avoided'- ,in that we employ heating elements which are disposed with'in the radiator structure so as to be surrounded by the liquid or fluid vwithin the radiator for absorbing the heat and transmitting itvto the walls o f the radi- 'Jatorn A further important 'advantageof our heater is its portability which permits it to be readily moved from place to place, which is frequently an important consideration. The heating elements which we employare preferably in the form of electrical resistances and are so mounted as to eil'ectually elimihate all vpossibility ofv the escape of any fumes into the room. We also preferably provide suitable means for causing a current of air to flow over the radiator structure to' absorb vthe heat radiated therefrom and distribute it throughout the room. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a' central vertical section through a heating device taken from end tq end thereof;

' Fig. 2 is a central vertical transverse section, parts being shown in elevation; l

Fig. 3 is a central horizontal sectional view through the heating device' parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the tubes and its associated fins; and. y

Figf is a diagram of the switch and connections of the motor and the heating elements. l

' The radiator includes the hollovw base 1 of generally rectangular shape in vertical and horizontal section. The lower end of this base is closed by a bottom plate 2 which fits' .into a suitable groove or rabbet provided for this purpose in the thickened portion or flan `e 3 of the base. The base is supported by eet 4 at the corners thereof, these feet being provided at their upper ends with horizontal and vertical lianges 5 and 6, respectively, disposed to engage beneath and about the rounded corner portions of thevbase.

A header 7 of generally rectangular shape in vertical and horizontal section is disposed above base 1 and lis secured thereto by tubes 8, the ends of which extend through suitable openings in the bottom wall of the header and the top wall of the base and are expanded and beaded over in a known manner to form a Huid tight closure therewith.

These tubes are provided with 'radiating fins 9 secured thereon. These fins may be flat as in Figure 2 or may be corrugated as in Figure 4 to increase their radiating surfaces. TheJ base and the header are also coneo 'i nected by a central brace 10 of cruciform u cross-section which is provided 7at its ends with securing flanges 11 seating upon blocks 12 and 13 projecting from the top wall of the base and the bottom wall of the header, respectively. Securing Yscrews 14 pass through these flanges and thread into the blocks. The brace serves to positively prevent movement of the base and the header toward each other, relievin excessive strains, and this race also pro- 4vides a support for a fan or blower 15 of known type for directing a curiybnt of air through the radiator between the tubes and the ins thereof. The blower 15 isv provided with a pulley 16 which is connected by a the tubes of 4 cord 17 to pulley i3 secured on the armature shaft of an electric motor Vi9 secured to the under Jlace of bottom plate 2. A screen or guard 20 of perforated sheet metal extends upwardly from the lower portion of base l above the fan and has its upper.

nate danger of anyone being injured thereby lthrough carelessness. The screen or guard -20 is preferably open at both ends, as illustrated in Figure 3, to permit ready flow of air to the fan, a large volume of air also flowing to the fan through the perforations of the guard 20. The fan thus acts to direct a large volume of air over and about the tubes and the nsof the radiator structure so as to absorb the heat therefrom and quickly distribute the heat throughout the room or compartment being heated.

The top of header 7 is open and the header is provided, a short distance fromits upper edge, with an inwardly pro'ecting flange 21. This flange provides, with ange 22, a groove or rabbet for reception of ak closure plate 23 which is removably secured in position by screws 2li-4 passing through the plate land threading into flange 2l. A hood 25 is secured over the upper end of header 7 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws or equivalent means, permitting removal of the hood when desired. Thishood carries, at one end, a socket 26 of known type having an associated cable or cord 27 for connection to an outlet or convenience socket, such as` are commonly provided in houses,

for connecting the socket 'to the house wiringr system. A switch 23 is mounted at the other end of the hood. @ne pole 'of' the socket member 26 is connected by a wire 29 to the center pin or pivot member 30 of switch 28. An arm `3l extends from pin 30 and is provided with an outer contact 32 and an inner relatively short contact 33. These contacts, as well as the arm 3l and the pin 30, are all of electrical conducting material. The switch structure includes fixed concentric Contact strips 33*1 and 34 and fixed contacts 35 and 36. Contact 36 is connected by wire 37 to one terminal of one or the heating elements 38, the other terminal of this element being connected by wire 39 to the other pole ol3 socket member 26. Contact strip 34- is connected bywire 0f to one terminal of the other heating element 38, the other. terminal oit this element being connected by wire di to wire 39. Contact strip 33a is connected by wire ft2 to one lbrush of the motor i9. The other brush ot the motor is' connected by wire 43 to wire 39. 'llhe contact 35 is connected by wire da? to wire 37. By referring, to Figure 5, it will he noted that the switch 28 has three operative positions. When the modera y arm 3l is moved into its first operative position in a clockwise direction,the contacts 32 and 33 are in engagement with contact 35 and contact strip 33a, respectively.. V This closes the circuit through motor 19 as well as through the iirst or left-hand heating element 38. `Whenparm 3l is moved into its second position contacts 32 and 33 are in engagement with contact strips 33CL and 3d, respectively. This breaks the circuit through the left hand heating element 38 and closes the circuit through the right hand element. lVhen the arm is moved into its third opera tive position, contact 32 is in engagement with the contact strip l34C and contact 36, contact 33 remaining in engagement with the contact strip 33a. rlhisl closes the circuit through both of the heating elements to pro` duce the maximum heating effect. In all of the operativepositions of arm 31, contact 33 remains in engagement or operative relation with strip 33u maintaining the motor circuitclosed. Movement of the arm 31 into -the inoperative position illustrated in Figure v 5 opens all of the circuits, including the motor circuit, rendering the"v device inoperative.,

The heating unitsv38 are elongated U-shape and the arms 39 of each unit extend through two adjacent tubes 8. The end portions of these arms extend through depressions or cups 40 formed integrally with closure plate 23., These cups or depressions are interiorly threadedrfor reception of packing nuts il which cooperate with the cups 40 to form. packing glands for receiving and securing the ends of ythe arms 39 and forming a fluid tight closure about the same, these packing glands including a suitable packing 42. The units 38 are of known construction ,and include an outer sheathing or tube of any suitable metal or alloy which will resist the action of the duid or liquid within the radiator structure. Within this sheathing or tube is mounted a resistance element and a suitable filling of refractory clay, or other suitable material, in which the .resistance element is embedded. As the construction of heating elements ot this general character are well known in the art, it is not necessary to illustrate the same or describe it in further detail. TWhile we have illustrated but two heating elements and have shown the arms o' the respective elements as extending through adjacent tubes 8, it will be under-V stood that any desired number ot these eleanents may be utilized depending largely upon the Siae of the heating device, and they ino protecting lio may be arranged in various relations, though we prefer to arrange these elements in the manner illustrated and described, as this proto dangerous stresses. lt is also to noted that the arms 39 are disposed centrally of the tubes 8 and spaced away from the surroundlng walls of the tubes, fthe bight portion of these elements extending below the tubes an appreciable distance into the base 1.`

Under ordinary conditions we use water in the radiator structure as the heat transferring mediu though any other liquid or fluid suitable (Igor this purpose may be employed. The water level should be a short distance above the bottom wall of the header 7, sufficient space-bein left in the header to permit of expansion o the water when heated.v To determine the water level, we preferably provide a suitable auge 43 of known type connecting the hea er 7 and base 1. The water is poured into the radiator structure through a suitable filling spout 44 rovided for thipurpose and extending rom the header 7. This s out is yclosed by'a removable closure member 45 provided with a safety valve 46 which is adjusted to open at a predetermined ressure, as is known. After the water has These elements serve to quickl raise the water to a high temperature, t us heating the radiator structure, the. radiatedl heat being removed to a large extent by the air drawn or blown through the structure b the fan or blower 15, which serves to distrlbute the heat in the manner previously described. The device is set in any suitable position in the room and is connected to a lconvenient outlet or socket by means of thecord- 27 and the usual plug attached thereto. When the device is set adjacent a wall, as under a window, theI perforated guard or 4screen Q0 should be placed away from the wall so Vthat the air discharged by the fan or yblower through the fins and tubes will flow into the room. It will be understood, however, that ,the device can be placed in any position desired with perfect safety as the fan is completely enclosed. It will also be understood that the fan can be arranged to blow air through the fins andV about the tubes or to blow air through the perforated screen 20, inducing air through the fins and about the tubes, as desired.

To facilitate circulation of the water or other liquid within the radiator structure,l

we provlde circulating tubes 47 similar to `\-tubes 8 and alternating therewith, these cir- 4 culating tubes establishing communication between the base 1 and the header 7. As

.the water or other liquid is heated, it flows heat and becomes relatively cool, the cool en placed in the radiator4 istructure, the circuit through one or both of the heating elements, 'as desired, is closed.

ward one of the tubes '8 and the other toward i the other adjacent tube 8. This insures very rapid circulation of the liquid with the result that the radiator structure is quickly raised to a relativel high temperature and is maintained at suc temperature so long as the heating elements 38 are in operation.

Under certain conditions instead of using water las the 'heat ltransferring medium, we prefer to use some other medium` which has a high boiling temperature. We find that parallin oil is very suitable for this purpose, this oil having a boiling By employing parafiin oil t e radiator struc ture can be readily raisedV to a much higher tempera-ture than when water is employed, thus greatly increasing its efliciency and heating ca ac ty. This is very desirable under con itions where it is necessary or oint of 500o F.'

preferred .to use a structure of small dimen- I sions. When water is employed asthe heat transferring medium, it is altogether feasible to construct a cheating device of this characterof such size and weight as to be readily transported, and the size and weight4 ments are completely immersed in this medium and surrounded thereby, so that the heat generated by such elementsis taken up by 'the heat transferring medium and transferred to the radiator structure. This very 'elfectually eliminates any loss of heat and results in very high heating efficiency. It

will also be noted that the heating elementsv are of sucha character and are so completely enclosed that there is no possibility of the escape into the room of objectionable or injurious fumes.

For convenience in assembly and to permit ready insertion and removal of the heating elements, the bottom plate 2 of base 1 1s removably secured in position in any suitable or preferred manner, so as to effect a fluid tight closure between this plate and the` base. We have shown this plate as secured in osition by means of screws 47' passingv tlrough the plate and threading into the thickened portion 3 of the base, though any other suitable or preferred means may be employed for this purpose.

To facilitate moving the device from place to place, we provide a handle 48 of suitable t pe, Ythe end portions of which are secured t rou h loops 49 secured to the top of hood 25.' e have illustrated the switch 28 as. of the button type and as provided with a head or button 50 secured on the upper end of the pivot member or pin 30 to facilitate turning thereof. It will be understood, however, that the switch can be of any suitable or preferred construct-ion and provided with any one of several well known means for operating the switch arm.

Vhile we'have shown the blower or fan 15 as rotatably mounted on 'the stub shaft l secured in a sleeve 52 of the brace member- 10, it will be understood that this fan can be supported in position in any suitable manner.

"As aboveindicated, changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of the same, and we intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of our invention is disclosed.

What we. claim is 1. In a heating device of the character described, a portable radiator structure for containing a heat absorbing fluid, said structure includingr a base and a header and tubes connecting the base and header, a closure plate for the top of the header, electrical heating elements extending through the plate and downwardly therefrom throughthe tubes, and means for securing the heating elements `in the plate and for effecting a fluid tightl closure between Ithem and the plate.

2. In a scribed, a portable radiator structure for containing a heat absorbing fluid, said structure includin a base and a header and tubes connecting til plate for the top of the header, electrical heating elements extending through the plate and downwardly therefrom throughl the tubes, means for securing the heating elements in the plate and for effecting a fluid tight closure between them and the plate, a

e base and header, a closure hood fitting over the header, and means carried by the hood 'and having electrical connection with the heating elements for con necting said elements to an electrical circuit and for controlling their respective circuits.

3. In a heating device of the character described, a portable radiator structuie for containing a heat absorbing fluid, said structure including a base and a header and tubes connecting the same, said tubes establishing communication between the base and the header for circulation of the fluid, and elec trical heating elements of substantially elongated Ushape having their arms extending through adjacent tubes.

4. In a heating device of the character described, a radiator structure adapted to conf tain a heat absorbing fiuid,' said structure including a base anda header and tubes establishing communication between said header and the base, heating elements extending through the tubes, and circulating tubes between the tubes receiving the heating elements and establishing communication between the header and the base,

5. In a. heating device of the character described, a radiator structure for containing a heat absorbing fluid, said structure including a base and a header and tubes connecting said base and header and establishing communication between the same for circulation of.. the fluid, heating elements of sub I stantially elongated U-shape having their heating device of the characterde-v arms extending through adjacent tubes and spaced therefrom to permit free flow of the fluid through said tubes, and circulating tubes between the tubes receiving the arrns of the heating elements and establishing leommunication between the header and the In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe .our names this l5 da of February, 1927.

JOHN .GULLBURQ CLARENCE ONGMAN. 

